Express Wrestling Celebrates Growth, Grit, and Community at Annual Awards Banquet 💪🚂
Valley City’s Express Wrestling program held its annual youth awards banquet this past week, celebrating another successful season of growth, toughness, and commitment both on and off the mat.
The banquet recognized wrestlers from the youth level before junior high school, while also honoring families, fans, and supporters who continue helping grow wrestling in Valley City. The evening highlighted not only wins and accomplishments, but the values that define the program — work ethic, resilience, coachability, and being a great teammate.
One of the biggest takeaways from the night was the strong sense of community surrounding Express Wrestling. From young wrestlers just learning the sport to families traveling across the state for tournaments, the banquet served as a reminder that youth wrestling is built just as much on support systems as it is takedowns and medals.
The program also recognized the Volk Family and Dockter/Suhr Family as “Family of the Year” for their commitment to supporting athletes, helping coach, traveling to tournaments, and always stepping up when needed. Longtime supporters Carrie Maresh and Paul McDonald were honored as “Fans of the Year” for their consistent support of Valley City wrestling and the sport as a whole.
The awards handed out throughout the evening reflected the identity Express Wrestling continues to build — athletes who compete hard, support teammates, and continue improving every day.
Girls Award Winners
Rookie of the Year: Ellie Larson, Vera Volk
Most Improved: Sierrah Duffy
Attitude and Resilience: Camilla Albrecht
Eye of the Tiger: Olivia Ford
Heart Award: Alyx Grafing
Rising Star: Rylynne Pittenger, Piper Dockter, Lilly Anderson, Ashlynn Lovell, Sandra Ford
Tough as Nails: Trinity Ryan
Iron Sharpens Iron: Charlee Coghlan
Conductor Award: Kathryn Maresh, Olivia Dockter
Boys Award Winners
Rookie of the Year: Ridge Rischmiller, Kasen Andel
Most Improved: Brantley Gion, Gable Hansen
Attitude and Resilience: Trent Albrecht, Decker Bulow
Eye of the Tiger: Cannon Keller, Tyson Broten
Heart Award: Jonathan Ryan, Holt Gubrud
Rising Star: Sawyer Krueger, Myles Swenson, Davis and Judson McMillan, Everett Pageler
Tough as Nails: Nathaniel Russell, Vander Volk
Iron Sharpens Iron: Alan Kleymann, Conley Bulow
Conductor Award: Chance Ronsberg, Winston Hendrickson
Energizer Award: Rekker Kirschenmann
Award Meanings
Attitude and Resilience: Positive attitude through adversity and the ability to battle back through tough moments.
Eye of the Tiger: Relentless work ethic and consistent intensity.
Heart Award: Coachable athletes who give maximum effort and apply feedback.
Rising Star: Young wrestlers full of potential who bring enthusiasm and are enjoyable to coach.
Tough as Nails: Physical, scrappy competitors who compete hard every day.
Iron Sharpens Iron: Wrestlers who push themselves and others to improve.
Conductor Award: Success on and off the mat while being a dependable teammate and supporter.
Energizer Award: Awarded this year for bringing the energy — and the best playlists — to the room.
